AN Alnwick martial arts group, held its first annual kickboxing and grappling competition at the Willowburn Sports Centre.

Students from the DFM Kickboxing invited the Directional Fighting Method club for a day of high kicks and low takedowns.
DFM Instructor Darren Currah said: "It was a great day full of fun with good displays of both kickboxing and ground fighting from all the students.

"It was interesting watching those with more grappling experience fight kickboxing and the other way around.

"But no matter what core system the students came from they all give it their best with some surprising results."

The tournament was held under a round-robin system with each contestant fighting three times. The contest started with the kickboxing competition over two rounds of two minutes each.

Points were scored for clean punches and kicks to the head and body, combinations of sweeps, low kicks and punches, and knees to the body and thighs.

Scott Norris drew two fights and won one; Barry Angus drew two fights and won one; Andy Newton won one fight, drew one and lost one; Steve Mclaughlan won one, drew one and lost one; Robin Francis won one and lost two; Heather Swanton lost two; Ryan Copeland won two and lost one.

The grappling contest was a no-strikes shoot-submission competition of two rounds of three minute duration.

Students had to wrestle, throw or takedown the opponent and then make them submit through a lock or choke hold.

Points were awarded for taking an opponent down, moving from one ground fighting position to a superior fighting position, range of techniques employed, ground defence against an attack, defence against shoots and fighting spirit.

Steve Mclaughlan won one, drew one and lost one; Andy Newton won one, drew one and lost one; Ryan Copeland won two and drew one; Scott Norris lost two and drew one; Barry Angus drew two and lost one; Heather Swanton lost two and drew one; Robin Francis won two and drew one.

Heather Swanton was named as the winner of the Fighting Spirit Award. Heather was the only female contestant and is of slight build.

DFM instructor Phil Doherty said: "Some of the fighters Heather fought are around six foot and weigh on average about 14 stone. Yet she managed to give all the strapping lads a surprise with her excellent ground defence and quick counter-attacking and above all sheer guts."

DFM Kickboxing and Directional Fighting Method classes are held at Willowburn Sports Centre every Wednesday from 7.15pm. Directional Fighting Method is also held at St Michael's Hall, Canongate, Alnwick, every Friday from 7.15pm.

For more information call Darren on 01665 604871 or email Phil at phil.doherty@hotmail.co.uk DFM Martial Arts is a member of the AMA and affiliated to Wuko, Wako and the EKGB.